| DATE: | January 29, 2024 | |
| POLICY MEMO: | SEBT 03-2024 | |
| SUBJECT: | Summer EBT 2024 Benefit Levels | |
| TO: | Regional Directors Child Nutrition Programs Supplemental Nutrition & Safety Programs Grants Management and Administrative Services All Regions | State Agency and Indian Tribal Organizations Directors Child Nutrition Programs Supplemental Nutrition & Safety Programs All States and Territories Indian Tribal Organizations WIC State Agencies |
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (PL 117-328) (the Act) authorized a permanent, nationwide Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) Program beginning in 2024 by adding Section 13A to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) (42 USC 1762). On Dec. 29, 2023, FNS published the interim final rule, “Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs,” in the Federal Register (88 FR 90230). This memorandum provides the 2024 Summer EBT benefit levels for all states and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) operating the program, including the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories.
In addition to establishing the $40 per month benefit amount per eligible child for 2024 for the contiguous states (including the District of Columbia), the Act also provides authority to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to adjust Summer EBT benefit levels for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (“outlying areas”) (Section 13A(b)(2)(A)(i); 42 USC 1762(b)(2)(A)(i)). Additionally, Section 13A(b)(2)(A)(ii) requires the Secretary to adjust the Summer EBT benefit levels beginning in calendar year 2025 consistent with adjustments made in Section 3(u) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 USC 2012(u)).
Consistent with other nutrition assistance programs, USDA is adjusting the Summer EBT benefit levels to reflect the differences between the costs of providing meals and supplements in the outlying areas and the 48 states and the District of Columbia. Summer EBT benefits adjustments are based on the value of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). The TFP represents a low-cost way to achieve a healthy diet and is the basis for SNAP maximum allotments. As such the TFP is a reflection of retail costs of the types of foods participants may purchase with Summer EBT benefits.
For Alaska and Hawaii,1 the November 2023 monthly TFP costs for a reference family of four were compared to the November 2023 Thrifty Food Plan cost for a reference family for the 48 states and the District of Columbia.2 This percentage difference was applied to the statutory $40 to estimate the 2024 Summer EBT benefit for these states. For SNAP maximum allotments, an additional adjustment is made in Alaska to reflect food cost differences in more remote areas of the state. The same multipliers used for these regional adjustments in SNAP are applied to set the Summer EBT benefits for three regions in Alaska.
Monthly TFP costs for Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands are not currently produced and Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands do not participate in SNAP,3 necessitating a different methodology for adjusting the Summer EBT benefit levels in those territories. For SNAP, maximum allotments in Guam are set to be 47 percent higher than maximum allotments in the 48 states and the District of Columbia. This differential was used to calculate the Summer EBT benefits levels for all territories.4 This adjustment was applied to all territories, which is consistent with the approach used by USDA for setting reimbursem*nt rates for the territories in other Child Nutrition programs.
The Summer 2024 Summer EBT monthly benefit levels are provided below.
48 States and the | 2024 Monthly | 2024 Summer5 |
$40 | $120 |
Alaska6 | 2024 Monthly | 2024 Summer |
| Urban | $52 | $156 |
| Rural 1 | $66 | $198 |
| Rural 2 | $80 | $240 |
Hawaii | 2024 Monthly | 2024 Summer |
$59 | $177 |
Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of theNorthern Mariana Islands | 2024 Monthly | 2024 Summer |
$59 | $177 |
State agencies with questions should contact the appropriate FNS regional office.
Melissa Rothstein
Associate Administrator
Child Nutrition Programs
1 https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource-files/Alaska_Hawaii_Thrifty_Food_Plan_November_2023.pdf
2 https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource-files/Cost_Of_Food_Thrifty_Food_Plan_November_2023_0.pdf
3 These territories participate in Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) block grants which provide food assistance to low-income households. For more information, see: NAP Block Grants
4 https://wwwa.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/file/FY24-Maximum-Allotments-and-Deductions.pdf
5 Summer benefit level is the monthly level multiplied by three.
6 The Urban, Rural 1, and Rural 2 rates for Alaska are consistent with the SNAP adjustments for Alaska. The costs of the Thrifty Food Plan in Urban, Rural I, and Rural II areas of Alaska are 0.79 percent, 28.52 percent, and 56.42 percent higher, respectively, than the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan in Anchorage. These areas are defined in federal regulation at 7 CFR 272.7(b).
